AMOS PARSONS, a respected citizen of Steubenville, and ex-commissioner of Jefferson county, was born in Wayne township, of that county, August 29, 1837. He is the son of William and Hannah (Starr) Parsons, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Wayne township. His father died in 1854, aged forty-two years, but his mother now eighty-two years of age, still resides in Wayne township. Amos Parsons was reared on a farm in his native township. In 1863, he became employed as a bridge carpenter on the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis railway and he thus continued until 1880, with the exception of four months in 1864, during which he served in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Ohio Nation Guard. After retiring from the railroad he was for a few months, engaged in the grocery business in Steubenville, which place has been his home since January, 1871. For about five years following this, he was a dealer in sewing machines. For the past two years he has been employed as a traveling salesman in the marble business. Mr. Parsons was married January 3, 1867, to Emeline Adams, who was born June 9, 1839, daughter of John H. and Mary (weldy) Adams. Her father is a native of Steubenville township, and her mother of Cross Creek township, Jefferson county. Mr. Parsons and wife have four children: John W., Lena M., Mary W. and Alice H. He and wife are members of the Presbuterian church. He is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias and a member of the G. A. R. In politics he is a republican. He has served two terms, or six years, as commissioner of Jefferson county, having been elected in 1881, and re-elected in 1884.